PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today revealed that 54 percent of Malaysian government officers below the age of 40 are corrupt.

Sharing the shocking revelation at a joint-forum with the Rural and Regional Development Ministry here, MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil attributed the corruption among young civil servants to today’s demanding lifestyle.

“We have cases where junior government officers and clerks can afford to buy the latest iPhone models and drive expensive cars. Their flashy lifestyle does not match their measly pay as young officers and administrative assistants under the government pay scale.”

“Corruption in this country is getting serious. Based on our statistics, 665 cases were filed against government officers last year. And as of February 2017, we have detained 548 civil servants for graft.

“This is why MACC has been more aggressive in combating graft among the civil servants since last August.”

MACC has set a three-year target to clean up the Malaysian public sector, said Azam.

The MACC and the ministry’s joint-forum was graced by the KKLW Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Pledging to combat corruption, Ismail Sabri said 80 per cent of his KKLW officers in sensitive posts have been rotated.

“Integrity is our main agenda in the ministry. We have rotated our senior officers in sensitive posts such as Director-General, Undersecretary for Finance, Development and Facilities, who have been in the posts for a maximum of six years.” – NST